Page 36 of Missing

“Not that I want to,” I added, worried I might have given him the wrong impression. “It’s just, Chase is upstairs, and I’m afraid if we keep going, I won’t be able to stop.”

Being a single parent came with a lot of dating challenges, one of them was not being able to give into your sexual desires, no matter how hot they burned.

A five-year-old might catch you in the act.

He grinned before saying, “We should schedule a date night at my place.”

The deep, husky tone of his voice caused heat to rush to my face. It sexy as fuck to hear the desire in his voice. It was hard to believe I could turn someone on so much.

“We should.” My hand felt the loss as I let it drop from his chest.

“Is it hard to find a late night,” his eyes sparkled as he looked me up and down, “or overnight sitter?”

Damn, asking about finding a babysitter should not sound sexy. But it did.

“I’m not sure,” I looked down to hide my embarrassment, “I’ve never had to ask.”

There hadn’t been anyone worth asking for. Doug and I had only been on two dates, but I already knew he was worth asking for.

It feels different with him.

Was I moving too fast, getting too attached, only to find out I couldn’t handle living with the inevitable fear and sleepless nights? Or setting myself up for heartbreak when he decided he wanted kids of his own. Kids I couldn’t give him.

It’s too soon to worry about all that. I inhaled sharply, forcing myself back to the present. I could worry about the future later, right now I wanted to let go of fear and enjoy the moment.

“I have a three day protection assignment next weekend, but my schedule is open this weekend.”

This weekend.

My mind filled with hesitation.

My body shivered with anticipation.

“I’ll see if Nina is available Friday.”

Chapter 19

Doug

Kissing Beth was everything I thought it’d be, and more. She was hesitant at first, which made me nervous I’d crossed the line, but then she relaxed and matched my passion.

Selfishly, I was disappointed when she said we had to stop, even though I understood. It’d be weird if Chase caught us kissing.

I half expected her to say no when I invited her to spend the night at my place. To my shock, and immense pleasure, she agreed. Pending her babysitter being available for the night.

Please God, let her be available.

I wanted to wake up next to her, and maybe get in a little morning sex before making her breakfast.

Where the hell did that come from?

I hadn’t woken up next to a woman since I moved out of the house I’d shared with my ex-wife. Hell, I hadn’t even considered bringing someone back to my place, let alone asking them to spend the night.

Damn, Beth had gotten under my skin. Every minute I spent with her left me wanting more.

Ineed to tell her I can’t have kids. It might not be as big a deal as I’d originally thought, given her age. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t think I was less of a man for shooting blanks.

My ex had, and she hadn’t hesitated to tell me how much of a failure I was. I could still hear her cruel words, cutting me down and destroying my self-esteem.

---